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Show THE ZEPHYR AUGUST 1995 PAGE 28 Unless Rush and Jesse advance their arguments with rationality and civility, they will deserve the appellation "demagogue" which is already sometimes given them. DRIFTING RIGHT Stiles likes to call me a Republican - as if that were the ultimate insult! And, in the last two elections, I voted that way. Before that, I voted for Democratic presidential candidates in every election (except in 1980, when I voted for Anderson). I stand before you as the Zephyr's token conservative and 1 voted for Mondale and Dukakis - which proves (if proof were needed) how ridiculously left of center this RUSH TO JESSE The differences between the gentlemen are apparent - one is white, the other black, one a Republican, the other a Democrat. But to my way of thinking. Rush Limbaugh and Jesse Jackson are much more alike than different. Both are creatures of the media - they live (and live well) for (and by) continual media appearances in which they attempt to shape public on opinion political and moral issues. Both are excellent public speakers - masters each of the catchy phrase. Both are politically well connected - behind the scene kingmakers in their respective political parties. Both do it the same way - by delivering votes on election day. Both believe the countrys problems can be easily solved - Rush by the free market, and Jesse by government social programs. Both publicly ridicule the other, thus subtly encouraging animosity between their supporters. Both appeal to their constituents with decidedly different views on affirmative action - which is no small reason why the issue will loom large in the coming election. As you listen to their arguments, keep in mind that zealously pursuing the dispute is good for them. It will endear both to their followers, and will divert attention from more pressing and troublesome matters like how to cut federal spending and balance the budget without inflicting undue harm on the less fortunate (an issue on which neither Rush nor Jesse have shown much inspiration). It will only be good for the country if a resolution is reached which is widely perceived to be workable and fair. publication is. How you ask, could a sentient human being be so misguided? I couldn't help it -I was a lawyer. I was making a good living off the government's sometimes silly and always complicated laws and regulations governing economic conduct. Then I became the owner of a small business. I was responsible for making payroll, paying Social Security taxes, buying unemployment and health insurance, and complying with the Americans With Disabilities Act and the various immigration, labor and civil rights laws, etc. My little business paid (and filled out forms for) twelve different taxes. When you're playing with your own your own money (as most small business people are), all the direct and indirect taxes (like employer mandates and legal bills) imposed on employers by the government raise your consciousness. Your most frequent contacts with government as a small business person arc (1) paying taxes, and (2) avoiding taxes and legal and regulatory land mines. It drove me nuts trying to figure out what you can and can't ask when you interview a job applicant. I worried constantly about getting sued by a disgruntled former employee - and finally was by a waiter who claimed that various waitresses had created a "hostile work environment" by making sexist comments and otherwise harassing him. I ultimately won, but was still out my time and attorney's fees. Luckily for me, the sexes weren't reversed in that case. If they had been, I could easily have lost my investment because of employee misbehavior that 1 didn't witness, didn't condone, and had no practical way of controlling. I, as the employer, would have paid, not the offending employees. In effect, the government has created an unofficial lottery system run by lawyers where a few fortunate employees make much more money suing their employers than working for them. I haven't met many liberals who run small businesses - and it's no accident. It's hard to maintain your enthusiasm for government regulation when you know what it costs, and how it works (or doesn't work) in the real world. Why is this country still one of the greatest places to live on earth? Is it because we have byzantine laws, powerful bureaucrats, and a comprehensive regulatory scheme? Not hardly, it's because - mainly in spite of those things - we have a vibrant private sector. The benefits of economic freedom to our society arc as important as the benefits of personal freedoms like freedom of speech and religion. People who arc smart, diligent and lucky can improve their lot in this country - unlike Europe, for example, where the wealthy today arc descendants of the wealthy generations ago. The consequence of that economic stratification is a caste-lik- e class structure that is to Americans. most as isn't in Europe as it is here common appalling Upward mobility because of high marginal tax rates that make it impossible to accumulate much wealth. I think it's wonderful that the richest person in America (Bill Cates) was a college who started a from scratch in the late 1970's. The American dream dropout company is alive and well, and will remain so unless we make the mistakes Europe has made -more than and freedom, valuing security assuming government can provide the former without sacrificing the latter. Watch Europe the next ten years - the end game of socialism will be played out there, and it wont be pretty. The results of the last election arc the best evidence yet that we may have the collective will to avoid that fate. But it remains doubtful that the Republicans can control federal spending enough to ever balance the budget. If they cant do it, who will? I and many others have drifted right, but we may well be too few, too late. BUSH REUX I cast my vote for George Bush in 1992 and Im glad I did. I think his handling of the Gulf War was masterful, and this country needed to fight and win that war SOUTHERN PAVING Attention Future Civilizations with time travel capability, examining this newspaper as an historical document. Meet me at the following earth coordinates August 20, 1995 11PM MDT and get me out of here. Division of LeGrand Construction Co. SERVING YOUR ASPHALT, GRAVEL, & READY-MI- X NEEDS LATITUDE 38 DEGREES, i SOUTHERN READY-MIX...259-22- 62 i PAVING...259-580- 9 34 MINUTES, i i I 5.22 SECONDS NORTH... LONGITUDE 109 DEGREES, 32 MINUTES, 27.11 SECONDS WEST. |